The park was named for the Tigers' then-owner, James D. Burns, who built the ballpark on his own property.
However, contemporary sources place it at "south of the stock yards, at the corner of Waterman and Dix Avenues" [Detroit Free Press, April 25, 1900, p. 8]; and Polk's 1901 Detroit City Directory states "southwest corner Toledo and Waterman Avenues."
Marc Okkonen, in his book Minor League Baseball Towns of Michigan (Dickinson Press, 1997) also places the ballpark at the southwest corner of Waterman and Vernor.
On April 28, 1901, the first major league game was played at the ballpark in which the Tigers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 12–11.
The Tigers wrapped up their usage of Burns Park on September 7, 1902, with an 11–6 win over the Baltimore Orioles.